SHOOTING SCENE

A Glanbrook homeowner has been charged with second degree murder after a man was confronted and shot early Thursday morning.

Peter Khill, a 26-year-old mechanical field specialist for GE Power in Mississauga, has been remanded in custody until Tuesday following the 3 a.m. shooting outside his Highway 56 home.

Veteran Hamilton defence counsel Derek Martin has confirmed he has been asked to represent the accused. He said his client will plead not guilty.

Martin said he hopes to obtain Khill's release on bail.

"He is a quiet spoken, gentleman is about all I can say. He has his training and he has been employed. There have been no entanglements with the law," Martin said of his client.

Just before 3 a.m., police say a male trespasser was spotted outside a home on Highway 56 between Golf Club Road and Regional Road 20. Police allege an armed Khill confronted the man as he was apparently trying to steal a truck in the laneway.

"That is consistent with what I read in the brief synopsis they (police) provided," Martin said.

The would-be thief was shot and died of his injuries at the scene. Police have identified the man as Jonathon Dwight Styres, 29, of Ohsweken. An autopsy examination is scheduled for Friday.

Police said the man did not live at the home and did not know the owner.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, the covered body still lay beside the open door of a tan-coloured pickup truck parked in front of a wood plank garage at Highway 56 home.

Martin said Khill is single and has owned the $300,000 home since last July. The Wilsonville raised Khill is a graduate of Waterford District High School and graduated with Dean's Honours from Mohawk's manufacturing, engineer technician — automation course in 2009. He has no previous criminal record.

Martin would not confirm whether Khill lived alone. Neighbours said he had a girlfriend. A woman who answered the phone at a Wilsonville address would not confirm a relationship with the accused. She said she had been told not to comment to the media.

Khill was formerly a machinist in Burlington.

Rob Kirkpatrick, zone manager with Elliot Turbomachinery in Burlington, said Khill worked as a millwright at the business for close to three years.

"He was a smart kid," Kirkpatrick said of the accused. "He was a super guy, he was a hard worker. He was very ambitious. He wanted to expand his knowledge," he added saying Khill was like a travelling salesperson for rotating equipment for GE who would visit various field sites.

"He was a nice guy. He was just an average guy. We were disappointed when he left," he said, adding Khill left the business in March 2013.

Khill also served as a reservist from 2007 to 2011 with the 56 Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery in Brantford, confirmed Capt. Chris Wattie, a spokesperson with the Canadian Armed Forces.

Scott Moodie watched from two houses down. The lifelong resident on Highway 56 said he didn't hear the shot and only heard what may have happened via news reports.

Moodie described the owner of the home where the truck was parked as "a super nice guy."

"He's a young guy, real nice guy, he's come quadding (four-wheel vehicles) with us ... If I call up and say, 'Can you come over to help with something,' he always says sure."

Moodie emphasized he didn't know any first-hand details about the shooting. But he said it would be "pretty awful" for a homeowner caught by surprise in the dark by a trespasser.

"You know, what are you going to do? Someone's breaking into your vehicle, and you go out in the middle of the night?" he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Dave Oleniuk at 905-546-3874. To remain anonymous you can contactCrime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.